In Shaanxi after the beginning of spring, there are spring rains, eight hundred miles of Qinchuan, and several large rivers. Since thousands of years, this land has received too much favor.
Zhengguo Canal, Bai Canal, Zheng Bai Canal, Fengli Canal, Wang Yushi Canal, Guanghui Canal, etc. were built in the Han and Tang dynasties and later, which not only created water transportation that extended in all directions, but also irrigated countless fertile fields.
Not to mention anything else, during the Chongzhen period, the taxes paid by Shaanxi were close to 15% of the country's total, which was several times that of Sichuan, the land of abundance.
Without the burden of border towns and feudal lords, life in Shaanxi would be pretty good.
After all, with just Fengxiang, Hanzhong, Xi'an and other prefectures, Sun Chuanting could organize an army of 100,000.
Similarly, after taking control of Xi'an and changing its name to Chang'an, Li Zicheng understood the potential of Shaanxi.
Especially after withdrawing from Beijing and returning to Shaanxi, Li Zicheng made a 180-degree turn and began to treat the gentry well, and broke his promise of three years of tax exemption and began to collect taxes.
Jingyang County.
In the fields, the wheat seedlings continued to grow and were gradually distinguished from weeds. The people were extremely happy and kept pulling weeds, fertilizing and watering, and were very busy.
"This King Chuang is just like the government. It sounds nice, but he still has to pay taxes."
"What a wonderful thing to think about. Is there any court in the world that doesn't pay taxes?"
"As long as there is no conscription and war, it will be..."
"The people in the Yamen are still old people. There is no big difference between Ming Dynasty and Dashun."
In the fields, the common people in short brown clothes went into battle with their whole families, their waxy yellow faces full of dissatisfaction.
Only during breaks did they chat for a few words, hiding their dissatisfaction with King Chuang.
At this time, from the Jing River in the distance, a young man riding a mule, wearing mismatched robes, holding a book, followed carefully by several slaves.
"Young master from Henan, it's really comfortable."
"I'm so envious. I force myself to come to our place, but I don't want to do it anymore."
The farmer ate wheat rice and chatted with emotion.
The man on the mule had to return home under the increasingly hot sun.
"My son, you came back just in time."
At this time, the shrewd Mr. Zhao was busy holding the letter and said anxiously: "Everyone in the neighborhood has written letters. It's a very important matter."
Zhao Wenxuan was stunned, quickly put away the book, spread it out and started reading.
Only a few people made it clear that with the approval of Governor Hong Chengchou of Luoyang, they would not be stingy with official titles as long as they submitted to the Qing Dynasty.
"We are just ordinary people, what can we do?"
Mr. Zhao stroked his beard and said tremblingly: "You have made so many promises, but the price is high. It is not easy for our old Zhao family to settle down..."
"Who knows what will happen to King Chuang in the future?"
Zhao Wenxuan shook his head and said with hatred: "The thieves killed the king and forced us to leave our homes. Now to show us goodwill, don't you know that it is not an expedient measure?"
Thinking like this, he walked for a long time and said: "Well, it's nothing more than letting us spy on the military situation, and also causing trouble from the rear when the intruders are fighting."
"Dad, the Ming Dynasty is far away in the horizon. Although the Manchus and Qing Dynasties are barbarians, they are still better than intruders."
"If you stay in Shaanxi for a day, your life will be in jeopardy. Bandits are bandits after all. Don't they change their orders day by day?"
These words completely convinced Mr. Zhao.
The Dashun court, which is like a Caotai team, does not look like a long-lived one. It is arrogant and unreasonable. It changes orders every day and forces them to join Shaanxi. It is simply a heinous crime.
"OK!"
Mr. Zhao said solemnly: "Then I will reply to them."
"In the past few months, the invasion of slave-building has made people in the province panic. It's a good thing that you didn't take the imperial examination. This is a success that a rabbit's tail can't grow."
"I just don't know when the imperial court will regain the Central Plains."
Following Hong Chengchou's plan, a large number of spies came to Guanzhong, conveying the Qing Dynasty's idea of revenge for Emperor Chongzhen, and generously promising official positions.
Hong Chengchou's former reputation and his generous and generous wishes made people's hearts move and undercurrents surge throughout Shaanxi Province.
In Chang'an, Li Zicheng's Dashun court was celebrating its victory against the Manchus. valley
In other words, after the battle at Yan'an Prefecture, the shaky Dashun court was barely stabilized, and the base area of Shaanxi was finally saved.
However, Li Zicheng knew very well that his Dashun army suffered extremely heavy losses.
After nearly a year of conquest, the retreating army was defeated. In the Battle of Luoyang and the Battle of Yulin, more than half of the elite old battalion was lost.
The total number of troops under his command will be no more than 200,000, and the old camp only has tens of thousands.
On the territory, Henan was completely lost, Shanxi Jiangwan rebelled, and only Shaanxi remained in the land of three provinces in the past.
After bidding farewell to his brothers, Li Zicheng met with Niu Jinxing and other civil servants, and was quite anxious:
"Can the summer harvest be done? How much food can we have?"
After the confiscation of homes was stopped, the finances of the Dashun court were already stretched thin and it was extremely difficult. Although many people still thought about paying them, Li Zicheng changed.
He wants to truly be an emperor.
Unfortunately, he woke up too late.
Niu Jinxing was quite happy with Li Zicheng's transformation, especially after Li Yan's death, he almost had full power:
"Your Majesty, according to the yellow records left over from the previous Ming Dynasty, Shaanxi Province can collect 1.5 million shi of food. Now that there are frequent wars and the people are scattered, it is estimated that it can also collect 1 million shi."
"A million stones? Too little, too little."
Li Zicheng was disappointed. He murmured and said, "If we only care about food and food, the army will be enough, but if we support hundreds of civil and military officials, it will not be enough."
"If I don't care about those officials, how can I be the emperor?"
"Your Majesty, it is indeed difficult for the imperial court to pay for it, but if you persist, build water conservancy projects, do light work and low taxes, the people will live and work in peace and contentment, and everything will be fine."
After all, Niu Jinxing was born in Juren. Although the specific operation is not known, it can still be said vaguely.
It sounds like that.
"After all, it's a convenience that I didn't steal."
Li Zicheng sighed after hearing this.
His single eye was filled with regret and a little longing: "Old Niu, you said I held the imperial examination last year, how about coming back this year? You will be a wise king by then, right?"
Niu Jinxing was choked, but Mingjun's level was not that low.
He thought that the emperor used to hate the gentry and officials, but now he has changed his mind. This is not a good thing.
"Your Majesty, don't be anxious. As long as you do your work lightly and love the people, the people will naturally praise you. You don't need to listen to the words of those gentry."
Regarding Niu Jinxing's words, Li Zicheng shook his head and said: "There are many scholars among the gentry, but to govern the world, we still need scholars!"
Thinking like this, Li Zicheng suddenly said: "Old Niu, don't those feudal kings have a lot of free land?"
"We can sell it to the gentry at a low price. Then we will not only have gold and silver, but also win people's hearts."
"Your Majesty, many of those vassal fields have been divided up by the military generals, and not much can be sold."
Niu Jinxing said awkwardly.
"Yeah?"
Li Zicheng sighed, it was too difficult to be an emperor.
On the side, Song Xiance opened his eyes and said: "Your Majesty, Hong Chengchou is in Luoyang now and is eyeing Tongguan. It can be seen that his desire to establish slaves and destroy me is not dead!"
"Hong Chengchou!!" Li Zicheng muttered through gritted teeth. It was this man who ambushed him from all sides and allowed him to break through the siege into the mountains alone and suffered a lot.
"This old thief is shameless and surrendered to Jiannu. Chongzhen is really good at using people."
"Your Majesty, this old thief is outraged by both men and gods, but he should not be underestimated."
Song Xiance said hurriedly: "For the current plan, we can only temporarily negotiate peace with the King of Yu of the Southern Ming Dynasty to avoid being attacked on both sides."
"Zhu Yixi, this little thief is not a good person either."
Li Zicheng said in a deep voice.
